Electrolytic condenser



Dec; 13, 1932. s. RUBEN 1,891,207

ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Filed June 19. 19:50

Hen.

INVENTOR MMUEL RUBEN Z v BYZQQ.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1932= UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE SAMUEL RUBEN, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO RUBEN CONDENSER COMPANY, OF NEW or DELAWARE ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, A. GORPORATION ELECTROLYTIC CONDENSER Application filed June 19, 1930. Serial No. 462,393.

This invention relates to electrolytic condensers and has for one of its objects the provision of a condenser that is durable and capableof operation at relatively high voltages. This and other objects are obtained by employing-electrode plates of film-forming material, at least one of which, the anode, is previously electrolytically formed, separating the plates uniformly by a flexible retiform or textural spacer which is impregnated with a non-conductive material, filling the spacer 0 such as a lacquer,

with an electrolyte in plastic form, which later crystallizes, and applying a uniform pressure to the plates to insure continuous contact betweenthe electrolyte and the electrodes. cation is in the nature of an improvement upon the subject matter'described and claimed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,710,073, issued April 23, 1929, and a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 200,7 53' filed June 22, 1927.

Broadly, the condenser of my invention is composed fundamentally of an electrol tically formed electrode, the anode, an a formed or an unformed electrode with a reticular'spacer therebetween, the spacer being impregnated with such non-conductive material as paraflin, and a film-maintaining electrolyte which is composed of ammonium borate and bone acid or a weaker ac1d,m1xed 'with a viscous material composed of a glycol In coil form further laminathat no two electrode extend above the forming solution is treated p l self-sustaining for a considerable period of I or coated with a clear insulating materia so that the electrolytically formed surface terminates slightly below the surface of the electrolyte. Such treatment prevents creepage and surface corrosion.

The invention of the present appli-- The anode is formed at 450 volts in a solution which is maintained at about C. for one hour, the current discharging being .1 ampere per square inch of surface to be formed.

The electrolyte is made by introducing into ethylene glycol at its boiling temperature, a well ground mixture of ammonium borate and boric acid, all dust and grit being kept out of the solution. At this temperature the ethylene glycol forms a clear solutionbut as'the mixture cools crystals form therein. At normal room temperatures the resultant electrolyte composition is a viscous mass of molasses-like consistency containing crystalline material. This viscous composition appears to be a mixture of a syrupy material and a mass of relatively smallwhite crystals. When applied to the parafiin coated retiform spacer it is heated to about 60 C. to produce a sufiicient plasticity for spreading. The condenser arrangement is then wound upon a wooden mandrel, and wrapped in such an insulating material as varnished paper; it is placed in a metal container, after which the whole is dipped into asphaltum and dried. The condenser is then aged at about 450 volts for a period of twelve hours.

In the invention the viscous material is not confined to ethylene glycol for glycerine' and various other glycols or glycerols are applicable; after many tests, however, ethylene glycol was found to give the best results. Electrolyte compositions prepared with the use of glycerols in lieu o glycol's, with the proportions of the ingredients remaining substantially the same, ap ear-to be thicker, that is, to have a lower Electrolyte compositions prepared in accor ance with the present invention with the proportions of the ingredients varying within reasonable limits may vary in consistency at egree of flowabilitg.

ordinary temperatures, such as normal room temperatures, from a viscous mass of 'aste of sufiicient body to be substantially time when heaped on a flat surface. Such lasses-like consistency to a gammy thick variations, however are to be kept within tively small solid articles or crystals. The termscrystallizetfelectrol te and crystalline compound used in t e claims are intended to describe such electrolyte compositions. Many experiments were performed also-in respect to the acid to be used in the filler. Boric acid was selected as most desirable for high voltage use,.though other acids, such as citric, malic, lactic, tartaric or phosphoric were found to give satisfactory results when a low potential current was applied. Salts of the acid selected may be used to. com lete the film-maintaining electrolyte in the ller in lieu of ammonium borate. The preferred filler or film-maintaining electroyte is composed of ammonium borate 42%, boric acid 27% and ethylene glycol 31% by weight. And while aluminum is the material best suited for electrodes, other materials, such as magnesium, can be used.

The term borate as used in the claims is intended to cover any compound including the borate radical and hence includes boric acid and its salts, and the term component used in connection with the polyhydric alcohols set forth is intended to cover any selected polyhydric alcohol material of the glycols and glycerols which may include other substances such as water in amounts ordinarily found in materials commercially used in the formation of the present electrolyte com ositions, so long as such substances are not eleterious to the formation of reactionary products and the various actions and operations of theresultant electrolyte and condensers.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective .view partly broken away, of an embodiment of the invention showing a flat plate condenser.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of theinvention arranged in coiled form.

The same reference characters have been used to denote similar arts, as, 1 and 2 represent aluminum electrode plates, one of which, the anode, 1s preliminarily thoroughl cleansed; 4 1s an open meshed fibre cloth im-. gregnated with parafiin; and 3 an applied ller of ammonium borate, boric acid and ethylene glycol. In Fig. 2 the two terminals of the device-are indicated at'5 and 6.

What I claim is:

1 In an electrolytic condenser the combi nat on, with spaced electrode plates, one of which s electrolytically film-formed, of a conductive composition therebetween, con taining ethylene glycol and a film-maintaining electrolyte of one of the weak acids boric, citric, malic, lactic, tartaric and phosphoric with a salt of one of said acids suspended therein, the whole forming a crystallized electrolyte.

- electrolytic condenser comprising a pair of separated electrodes of vop osed c; polarity, one of which is electrolytically lm-formed, a pair of fibre spacers impreg hydric alcohol component of one of the nated with a non-conductive material, one spacer located on each face of one of the electrodes, a viscous electrolyte mixture containing ethylene glycol, a weak laid and a salt thereof, the entireunit being coiled to circular form after assembly, said electrol in appearance being a viscous mass 0 a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasses-like consistency.

3. In an electrolytic cell the combination with a pair of opposed plates of op osite polarity, one of which is electrolytically film-formed, of a flexible reticular spacer impregnated with a non-conductive material and free from electrolysis between its fibres and the fplates, and interposed between the plates 0 the pair, and a film-maintainin crystallized electrolyte within the meshes c said spacer, said electrolyte consisting of ammonium borate, boric. acid and ethylene glycol.

1. An electrolytic condenser comprising in combination, electrode plates one of which is electrolytically film-formed, spaced apart by a recticular spacer impre ated with an insulating material and an e ectrolytei composed of ammonium borate, boric acid'and ethylene glycol, respectively, in substantially the percentages by weight: 42, 27 and 31.

5. In an electrolytic condenser, the com bination with spaced electrode plates one of which is electrolytically film-formed, of a conductive composition therebetween containing ethylene glycol and a film-maintaining supersaturated electrolyte of a weak acid and a salt thereof suspended therein, the 'roportions of ethylene glycol and electrolyte eing such that a mixture of paste consistency is formed when heated to 60 C. 6. In an electrolytic condenser, the combination,-with a. air of electrodes, one of which is electrolytically film-formed, a spacer therebetween, of a conductive medium comprising a mixture of 2. glycerol and a filminaintaining electrolyte composition of a supersaturated solution of boric acid and ammonium borate, said glycerol affording yiscosity, said electrolyte in appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasses-like conaistencyn' 7. In an electrical condenser, an electrolyte composed. of crystalline com unds of ammonium s yc 8. Inan electrical condenser, an electrolyte com of crystalline com uncle of ammonium borate, a weak aci and a polyhydric alcohols falling within the clfi sszs glycols and glycerols, the whole forming'a borate, boric acid an ethylene plastic mixture. 9 an electrical condenser, an electrolyte monium borate,

composed of crystalline compounds of amboric acid and a glycol. 10. The method of making an electrolytic condenser which consists in partially coating the anode memberof two electrode plates with an insulating material, electrolytically forming the uncoated part of said plate in a solution containing ammonium borate, bone acid and water, at substantially 450 volts, mixing finely ground ammonium borate and boric acid with ethylene glycol at the boiling temperature as an electrolyte, said electrolyte in appearance at normal room temperatures being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasses-like consistency, and

' applying said mixture in plastic form to a and electrolyte and compressing said spacer between said plate and connecting said plates as cooperating electrodes in an electrical reticular spacer circuit.

11. The method of making a condenser electrolyte which consists in dissolving in boiling ethylene glycol a mixture of monium borate and boric acid, the respective parts by weight 27% and 42%.

12. An electrolytic condenser comprising cooperating electrode plates, one of which is. electrolytically formed spaced apart by a textural material impregnated with an insulating material and a viscous electrolyte composed of ammonium borate, boric aci and one of thepolyhydricfalcohols falling within the classes glycols and glycerols, said electrolyte in appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasses-like consistency.

, 13. An electrolytic condenser comprising a pair of spaced' electrodes, at least one of i which is electrolytically film-formed, a poterial, said conductive composition including.

alcohols falling within the classes glycols an glycerols, said electrolyte in appearance berous spacer material located between said elecs trodes and a viscous conductive composition interposed between said electrodes and impregnating said spacer material, said conductive composition comprising ethylene glycol and a film-maintaining electrolyte of a weak acid and a salt of a weak acid, said electrolyte in appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasses-like consistency. v

14. In an electrolytic condenser, the combination comprising a pair of spaced electrodes, at least one of which is electrolytically film-formed, a porous spacer materiallocated between said electrodes, and a viscous conductive composition interposed between said electrodes and impregnating said spacer maa supersaturated solution of boric acid, ammonium borate and one of" thepolyhydric being substantially 31%,

least molasses-like consistency.

15. In. an electrolytic condenser the combination with film-forming electrodes, of a spacer positioned between said electrodes impregnated with a viscous electrolyte composition formed from a mixture comprising a weak acid, a salt selected from the salts of boric acid and salts of the other weak acids, and a polyhydric alcoholcomponent of one of the polyhydric alcohols falling within the classes glycols and glycerols, said composition including the products obtained by reacting the polyhydric alcohol component with a borate present at substantially the boiling temperature ofthe polyhydric alcohol component, said electrolyte in appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasses-like consistency.

16. In an electrolytic condenser the combination with film-forming electrodes, of aspacer positioned between said electrodes impregnated with a viscous electrolyte composition formed from a mixture comprising a weak acid, a salt selected from the salts of boric acid and salts of the other weak acids, and a glycol component, said composition including the products obtained by reacting the glycol component with a borate present at substantially the glycol component, said electrolyte in appearance-being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasses-like consistency. I

17., A viscous electrolyte composition for electrolytic condensers formed from a mixture comprising a weak acid, a salt selected from the salts of boric acid and the salts o the other weak acids, and a polyhydric alcohol component of one of the polyhydric alcohols falling within the classes glycols and glycerols,- said composition including the products obtained by reacting the polyhydric alcohol component with at least the weak acid with the acid, the salt and the polyhydric boiling temperature of the alcohol component present in the mixture at ucts obtained by'reacting the polyhydric al-' cohol component with a borate present at d substantially the boiling temperature of the polyhydric alcohol component, said electrolyte in appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least mol-like 0011- I sistency.

19. A viscous electrolyte com 'tion for electrolytic condensers ormed rom a mixture comprising-a weak acid ,"a salt selected from the salts of boric acid and salts of the other weak acids, and a glycol component,

said composition including the products obtained by reacting the l'ycol component with a borate present at su stantially the boiling temperature of the glycol component, sai electrolyte in appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles 1 are suspended and of at least molasses-like consistency.

20. A viscous electrolyte composition for electrolytic condensers comprising the products obtained by reacting a polyhydric alcohol component of one of the polyhydricalcohols falling within the classes g ycols and glycerols with ammonium borate and a weak acid at substantially the boiling temperature of the polyhydric alcohol componentfsaid electrolyte in appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasseslike consistency. I '21. A viscous electrolyte composition for electrolytic condensers comprising the products obtained by reacting a polyhydricalc0- hol component of one of the materials ethylene glycol and glycerine with ammonium 35 borate and boric acid at substantially the boiling temperature of the polyhydric alcohol component, said electrolfyte 1n appearance being a viscous mass 0 a syrupy ma-.- terial in which solid particles are suspended 40 and of at least molasses-like consistency.

22. A viscous electrolyte composition for electrolytic condenserscomprisin the products obtained by reacting an eth ene glycol component with ammonium rate and I boric acid at substantially the boiling tem-' perature of the ethylene glycol component, said electrolyte in "appearance being a viscous mass of a syrupy material in which solid particles are suspended and of at least molasseslike consistency.

' Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 17 day of June, A. D. 1930. 1

SAMUEL RUBEN. u 

